Brisbane Airport’s new taxi call forward area opens

26 August 2010

A new taxi call forward area for Brisbane Airport was officially opened today by the Deputy Premier Paul Lucas, providing more than 350 bays for taxis to wait comfortably before driving to the terminals to collect passengers.

The taxi call forward area houses state-of-the-art facilities for drivers, including approximately 350 fully shaded parking spaces for taxis to wait to be called to the terminals, a cafe, prayer rooms, flight information display monitors, CCTV security, a parkland eating area, as well as toilet and shower facilities.Brisbane Airport Corporation Pty Limited CEO and Managing Director Julieanne Alroe said the taxi industry is an important mode of transport for airport patrons, with approximately 20 percent of passengers travelling to or from Brisbane Airport in taxis.

“With so many people travelling to the airport in taxis, we wanted to ensure our taxi drivers were taken care of with facilities they valued and needed,” Ms Alroe said.

“To make sure of this, we designed the facility in consultation with representatives from the Taxi Council of Queensland, Black and White Cabs, and Yellow Cabs. We hope the facility not only meets all the driver's needs, but also exceeds their expectations.”

This new facility is another piece of the $4.2 billion infrastructure program being delivered by BAC, helping to improve Brisbane Airport’s infrastructure and facilities. It follows the recently delivered Northern Access Road, or Moreton Drive, and also the International Terminal expansion. BAC is also currently upgrading the Domestic Terminal precinct, with plans for a new nine storey multi-level car park, as well as expansion and refurbishment of the common user terminal (where Jetstar and Tiger operate) and tarmac areas.

“With a record breaking 19.4 million passengers through Brisbane Airport last financial year, we need to ensure we are upgrading our facilities to meet the growth in passenger numbers. This often means some pain and inconvenience during the construction period, but it’s worth it when we end up with a first class new facility, like this new taxi area we’re opening today,” Ms Alroe said.

The taxi call forward area is the first stage of a larger precinct to open in the near future, which will be housing ground transport operators such as limousines, buses, coaches, offices and storage areas for the rental car companies and in the long-term staff parking for the Domestic and International Terminals.

“The new taxi call forward area will be a comfortable and convenient place for our ground transport operators and taxis to wait before heading to the terminal to collect their passengers.

“We’re working to build an efficient multi-modal transport hub at Brisbane Airport, in order to provide passengers and airport users with a variety of transport options and alternatives to their private vehicles, improving access and egress to the precinct, and also improving Brisbane Airport’s carbon footprint. The new facilities for taxi’s and ground transport operators will help us to realise this vision,” Ms Alroe said.